Page 37 of Enticing the Elf
Eoin
My phone chimesjust as I’m sitting down with Ari to go over what he learned from the Warhammers’ background checks, and I glance at it just to make sure it’s not work-related.
“Instant smile. It’s from Dáithí, then,” Ari teases, and my cheeks get hot.
“Yeah.” I shove it into my pocket without opening the message. It can wait until after the meeting.
Ari scoffs. “Just read it, Eoin. I don’t care.”
Part of me wants to hold out on principle, but that’s just stupid.
Are you free after work tonight? I need you to come somewhere with me and then portal me home.
I reread the message twice. This is the first time Dáithí’s asked me to portal him—he’s come with me before, of course, but he’s never asked me to as a favor. I mentioned it once and he said I’m not his personal transport service. Plus, he likes taking public transport so he can people watch.
“Is he okay?” Ari asks in concern as I just stare at my phone.
“Yeah. At least, I think so.” I show him the text, and he shrugs.
“Maybe he’s going on a shopping spree and doesn’t want to carry the bags home? Or he’s buying furniture.”
That’s possible. “He did say a couple of times that he wants a new rug for his bedroom.”
“There you go. Rugs can be awkward to carry.”
I make a sound of agreement, then text Dáithí back with an affirmative. We haven’t had any time to spend together in the past couple of days. The viceroy who looks after the elves in Romania went into early labor with her baby, and I went with Raðulfr so he could manage things there until a temporary replacement was found. I also spent several hours hovering outside the birthing room, grateful that Raðulfr and the viceroy didn’t require my presence inside.
I got home late last night, and of course he was at his place. We got ten minutes together this morning when I got to work, but he’s promised to stay at my?—
Thank you! And can we stay at mine tonight instead of yours?
Correction, he’s asked me to stay with him tonight.
Sure. Come find me when you’re done for the day.
I have a list as long as my arm of things to catch up with, so I’m bringing some work home to deal with while Dáithí watches TV or after he’s asleep. At least that way I still get to spend the evening with him, instead of hanging around here alone.
When I finally put my phone down, Ari’s watching me.
“He makes you happy, doesn’t he? Not just ‘life is good’ happy, but happy down to your bones.”
I smile. “Yeah. I want to do the same for him too.”
“You will. Whatever scared him that’s holding him back, he’ll get through it, and then you can be happy together.” There’s an edge of something in his face… not sadness. Wistfulness? Is Ari a closet romantic?
Or is he lonely?
Because a quiet word to Dáithí is all it would take for him to start hunting down a match for Ari. He likes Ari andlovesmatchmaking. It would be like giving him a present.
Hmm.
Ari’s words fully sink in a second later. “Wait, what do you mean, whatever scared him? You think Dáithí had a bad experience or something?” Wouldn’t he have told me if that was the case? We’ve both been open about our pasts… I thought.
“Youdon’tthink he did?” Ari sounds astonished. “I assumed that had to be part of it. I mean, sure, your reputation with relationships sucks, but you and he have been exclusive for over a year. Why is he still so sure you’ll want to walk away? So much so that he wasn’t even willing to try until you forced him to?”
My mouth is hanging open. I can’t believe I never put that together before—I had all the pieces, even asked the same questions Ari just gave voice to. “Well, fuck.”
Ari pats my shoulder. “It’s okay. Now, most?—”
